Supping, shopping in the Finger Lakes region

New York's Finger Lakes region is well-known for its award-winning wineries.

Photograph by: Ken Aiken
, For Postmedia News

What did you do?

We made an overnight trip to the picturesque Finger Lakes region of upstate New York to admire the scenery, sample the wines, taste the cuisine and check out one of the largest collections of outlet stores within and easy drive of Ottawa.

So this was a cross-border shopping expedition?

Yes and no. For my wife, our first visit to the 100 or so name-brand stores at Waterloo Premium Outlets was a big attraction.

But we would not have made the four-hour drive from Ottawa to the Finger Lakes just to shop for bargains, however attractive they might be.

Highlight of the trip?

Candlelight dinner for two, with live piano accompaniment, in a palatial, Italian-style, heritage mansion with a marvellous view of ornate gardens stretching to the shore of Seneca Lake, largest of the Finger Lakes.

Did you plan this?

We had planned to go out for an expensive dinner on our one night across the border, but had no idea what we would find.

We spotted an imposing mansion on the lake in the town of Geneva. It turned out to be a historic, privately owned hotel and restaurant named Geneva On The Lake.

We didn't make up our minds right away to dine there, but later decided this was our preferred option.

And was it worth it?

You bet. We were the first diners to arrive, greeted by the pianist, who was already at work. Naturally we chose the table closest to the window with the best view. We were later joined by about a dozen other diners, all of them couples. My wife declared her filet mignon to be perfect, and my rack of lamb was just as I like it. For these two main courses, plus a shared appetizer, a glass of wine each and coffee, we paid about $120 US, including tax and tip.

What about the wineries?

They are everywhere in the Finger Lakes region. We visited two along the shores of Seneca Lake. One is at Belhurst Castle, a mansion built for one of the super-rich in the 19th century. It reminded us of Boldt Castle in the Thousand Islands, except that Belhurst Castle is completed, which Boldt Castle never was. Later, we lingered at Fox Run Vineyard & Café, a very pleasant place with spectacular views of the lake and where wine by the glass starts at just $4 US

Where did you stay?

The recently built Microtel Inn & Suites in Geneva, which we booked online and which cost about $110 US for the night, including breakfast. It more than met expectations, and was among the most luxurious hotel rooms I've stayed in.

And what about the outlet shopping?

We saved that for the second day of our two-day, one-night trip. We had planned to spend about three hours at Waterloo Premium Outlets, near Geneva, but ended up spending about five hours there. Time flies when you're shopping for bargains.

How much are you allowed to bring into Canada tax-and-duty-free from such a trip?

Good question. If you spend at least 24 hours outside Canada, as we did, you are permitted to bring back goods worth up to $200 Cdn. per person (but not including alcohol or tobacco). So we were able to buy up to $400 of goods and not pay tax or duty. (There is no exemption from tax or duty at the border for those who spend less than 24 hours out of the country.)

Are prices lower than you'd find in Canada?

Hard to say. Canadian prices vary, just as American prices vary. But there seemed to be plenty of bargains and discounts the day we visited Waterloo Premium Outlets. What we liked best was the variety of name-brand items from firms such as Bose, Nautica, Nike, Ralph Lauren, Timberland and Samsonite.

Any tips on saving?

Shoppers aged 50 and up get 10 per cent off in many stores on Tuesdays. Some stores offer additional discounts to shoppers with VIP Coupon Book, available at the Information Centre.

Would you recommend this for a day trip?

No. It's just about in range from Ottawa for a day trip. But the clincher for us, in deciding to stay overnight, was that we were able to bring back $400 worth of purchases duty-free.

What is the best time of year to visit?

Any time is good for shopping. Summer and fall are best for most of Finger Lakes' many other attractions.

How do you get there?

Cross border via the Thousand Islands Bridge, and take Interstate 81 south to Syracuse, then the New York State Thruway (I-90) west to Exit 41. Waterloo Premium Outlets is on Route 318 next to the Thruway.

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.